1968 Jaeger-leCoultre Memovox 'Oversized 37mm' - Stainless Steel ' - Ref. E855
SKU:
€3,785.00
€3,785.00
per item
A large and well preserved Jaeger-leCoultre Memovox.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
The Memovox was first introduced by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1950/51 with the manually wound Calibre 489. The two separate crowns allowed you to manually wind and set the alarm and timekeeping parts of the movement separately. The name Memovox is a composite of two Latin word, Memor (remembering) and Vox (voice), meaning "the voice of remembering," a perfect choice for an alarm watch.
A few years after, in 1956, the Cal. 489 was replaced with the Calibre 815, making the Memovox the first automatically wound alarm wristwatch. The alarm function on these cal. 815 Memovox is still wound separately from the rest of the movement. Because there is no on/off switch for the alarm, it is always set if it is wound, so automatic winding would mean the alarm was always set within 12 hours when the watch was running. This could be problematic for obvious reasons.
Finally, we end up with the most iconic Memovox movement, the Calibre 825, which is a cal. 815 with the addition of a date module. Modular movements can be either expertly built or clumsily cobbled together, and the caliber 825 is most definitely the former. The two defining features of the cal. 825 are the so-called "bumper" winding system and the hammer-based alarm. You can actually feel both moving back and forth while the watch is on your wrist, but this is charming rather than annoying.
THE STORY
Not all firms in the watchmaking field have been able to stand the test of time quite like Jaeger-leCoultre, also known as the "watchmaker's watchmaker". Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and originally named only LeCoultre, the company provided watchmaking's top brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, the high-grade, unfinished movements with which they completed their watches.
In the early 1900s, Cartier's watch supplier Edmond Jaeger sought out Antoine LeCoultre's help in creating the wotld's thinnest watches. The collaboration resulted in the manufacturing of Cartier's earliest Tank and Santos watches, all housed with LeCoultre movements. The team decided to merge in 1937, and the firm officially became the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand by which collectors know it today. Some of the firm's most significant and important timepieces include the Reverso, the Ados travel clock, the Memovox, the Atmos clock and, among modern watches, their Master Complications.
THE DATA
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This wristwatch is in overall very good and untouched original condition. This is a great timepiece, stylish, refined and with a lot of personality. The design is timeless, a classical.
The watch comes with a new black leather strap.
It has a nice presence on the wrist with it's 37mm case an can be worn daily and for more formal occasions.
Just serviced, it keeps excellent time and comes with a one year guarantee.
WHY IS THIS WATCH SPECIAL
The Memovox was first introduced by Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1950/51 with the manually wound Calibre 489. The two separate crowns allowed you to manually wind and set the alarm and timekeeping parts of the movement separately. The name Memovox is a composite of two Latin word, Memor (remembering) and Vox (voice), meaning "the voice of remembering," a perfect choice for an alarm watch.
A few years after, in 1956, the Cal. 489 was replaced with the Calibre 815, making the Memovox the first automatically wound alarm wristwatch. The alarm function on these cal. 815 Memovox is still wound separately from the rest of the movement. Because there is no on/off switch for the alarm, it is always set if it is wound, so automatic winding would mean the alarm was always set within 12 hours when the watch was running. This could be problematic for obvious reasons.
Finally, we end up with the most iconic Memovox movement, the Calibre 825, which is a cal. 815 with the addition of a date module. Modular movements can be either expertly built or clumsily cobbled together, and the caliber 825 is most definitely the former. The two defining features of the cal. 825 are the so-called "bumper" winding system and the hammer-based alarm. You can actually feel both moving back and forth while the watch is on your wrist, but this is charming rather than annoying.
THE STORY
Not all firms in the watchmaking field have been able to stand the test of time quite like Jaeger-leCoultre, also known as the "watchmaker's watchmaker". Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and originally named only LeCoultre, the company provided watchmaking's top brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, the high-grade, unfinished movements with which they completed their watches.
In the early 1900s, Cartier's watch supplier Edmond Jaeger sought out Antoine LeCoultre's help in creating the wotld's thinnest watches. The collaboration resulted in the manufacturing of Cartier's earliest Tank and Santos watches, all housed with LeCoultre movements. The team decided to merge in 1937, and the firm officially became the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand by which collectors know it today. Some of the firm's most significant and important timepieces include the Reverso, the Ados travel clock, the Memovox, the Atmos clock and, among modern watches, their Master Complications.
THE DATA
- Maker: Jaeger-leCoultre
- Model: Memovox 'Oversized'
- Reference: E855
- Case N°: 11844XX
- Year: 1968
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Dimentions (WxHxT): 37x46x13mm
- Caliber: 825
- Bracelet/Strap: Black
- Box/Papers: N/A
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
This wristwatch is in overall very good and untouched original condition. This is a great timepiece, stylish, refined and with a lot of personality. The design is timeless, a classical.
The watch comes with a new black leather strap.
It has a nice presence on the wrist with it's 37mm case an can be worn daily and for more formal occasions.
Just serviced, it keeps excellent time and comes with a one year guarantee.
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